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'No Funding For FRA NEC Futures,' Courtney Is Assured By House Appropriators

February 10, 2017

Press Release

NORWICH, CT —Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) received a letter from House appropriators assuring him that no funding has been provided for the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) to implement the NEC FUTURE rail improvement project. Rep. Nita M Lowey (NY-17), ranking member of the full House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. David E. Price, ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development sent Courtney a letter today stating unequivocally that there is no funding for FRA to implement NEC FUTURES upgrades either under current law, or in under the budget for FY 2017 transportation appropriations bill passed by the House of Representatives.

“The letter I received from House appropriations today makes it perfectly clear that there is simply no money being provided to FRA for implementation of their NEC FUTURE plan, including the so-called Kenyon Bypass,” said Courtney. “My office has confirmed with both majority and minority appropriations staff that there is no funding under current law, or under the transportation bill already passed in the House for FY 2017 for FRA to implement the NEC FUTURE rail plan. I will continue to work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to ensure that no funding is made available now or in the future for FRA to implement any upgrades which harms communities here in southeastern Connecticut.”